Desperate to discredit any investigation into the Trump campaign’s contact with Russia, along with the subsequent obstruction of justice efforts, Republicans recently put all of their eggs in one basket. Most pro-Trump politicians and media banded together to cast doubt on Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller (and the whole Department of Justice), claiming a vast conspiracy of FBI abuse of surveillance warrants.

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), in his now infamous memo, claimed that the entire Trump/Russia investigation was based on a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant on Carter Page. In addition, Nunes’ memo claimed that the warrant application (that he didn’t even read himself) was based entirely on the famous Steele dossier. The Nunes memo goes on to say that the Steele dossier was a partisan effort paid for by the Democratic Party.

Earlier today, sources confirmed that the partisan nature of the Steele dossier was indeed disclosed. Also, a close read of the Nunes memo shows that the FISA warrant on Carter Page was granted before the current line-up of the FBI. FISA warrants are tough to get, and must be renewed every 90 days:

‘The Nunes memo says Page’s warrant was renewed three times. A renewal generally indicates that the existing warrant has been in some way useful.’

The Republican case is quickly falling apart. It’s now obvious that the FISA warrant for Carter Page was not based solely on the Steele dossier.

TIME has recently uncovered a 2013 letter, written by Carter Page. In this letter that he sent to a manuscript editor, he bragged on his Kremlin connections:

‘Over the past half year, I have had the privilege to serve as an informal advisor to the staff of the Kremlin in preparation for their Presidency of the G20 Summit next month, where energy issues will be a prominent point on the agenda.’

Of course. The importance of Carter Page HIMSELF saying he is an "informal adviser to the Kremlin" in 2013 is that HE HIMSELF is justifying, completely, being put under surveillance. Bc well, WORKING FOR THE KREMLIN. https://t.co/6fwGFIrh5f

In 2013, three Russian spies tried to recruit Carter Page as a Kremlin asset. The FBI charged all three, deporting two with diplomatic immunity and imprisoning the third. Page was told what happened, and yet he kept trying to get in touch with the Kremlin. https://t.co/cHIYykwuQE